Ski boot

ABSTRACT

This invention discloses a ski boot consisting of an upper and a sole integral with one another. The sole is formed with a plurality of recesses at the outer border thereof. The ski boot also includes a leg piece or ankle section connected to the upper at an articulation point arranged on the rear part of the boot.

United States Patent [191 Vaccari [451 July 23, 1974 SKI BOOT [76]Inventor: Franco Vaccari, Via Paleoveneti,

Montebelluna, 31044 [22] Filedf Dec. 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 317,978

[52] US. Cl. 36/2.5 AL [51] Int. Cl ..A43b [58] Field of Search 36/25 R,2.5 AL

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,570,148 3/1971 Morgan36/2.5 AL

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,806,109 5/1970 Germany 36/2.5 AL

Germany 36/25 AL 1,963,342 Germany 36/25 AL Primary Examiner-Patrick D.Lawson Attorney, Agent, or FirmDr. Guido Modiano; Dr. Albert Josif 5 7ABSTRACT This invention discloses a ski boot consisting of an upper anda sole integral with one another. The sole is formed with a plurality ofrecesses at the outer border thereof. The ski boot also includes a legpiece or ankle section connected to the upper at an articulation pointarranged on the rear part of the boot.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures llll 1 SKI BOOT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an improved ski boot.

With the now well confirmed acceptance of plastic ski boots, which atpresent constitute a large part of the market for this type of article,the problem of improving the manufacturing techniques so as to reduceboth the manufacturing times and the costs, in particular those derivingfrom the materials used, has become increasingly felt. This requirementis now felt to a much greater extent than previously, becauseof the factthat the large quentities of ski boots produced, governed by industrialcriteria of manufacture, require the maximum possible reduction in thecosts of each unit pro duced, taking into account the fact-that theseeconomies are amplified by the very high production rate which ismaintained by the main industries in this field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention isconsequently to provide a ski boot of new conception which satisfiesthese requirements, by costing less than ski boots of the same classwhile maintaining, and to a certain extent increasing, the intrinsicqualities of solidity, rigidity and strength, qualities which areindispensable in these products.

Another object of the invention is to enable the ski boot to beeasilyadapted to various conditions of use by a comfortable and rapidinterchangeability of certain of its parts, with the further advantagethat this interchangeability does not deter from the capacity of theboot to give at its leg part or ankle section that certain adaptabilityto the position of the foot with respect to the leg during use.

These objects and others which will be more evident hereinafter areattained by a ski boot according to the invention, consisting of a vampmade in a single piece in plastic with the sole, and a detachable anklesection or cuff, connected to the vamp, in which the ankle section isconnected to the vamp only in one pointof articulation situated on therear part of the boot.

BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantageswill be more evident from the description of a ski boot according to theinvention described by way of example in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the ski boot according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a three-quarter rear perspective view of the same boot;

FIG. 3 is a section through the heel of the ski boot on a verticallongitudinal plane;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the detail shown in section inFIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The ski boot according to thepresent invention belongs to the category of those made of plasticsynthetic resin, in which the vamp and sole are integrated in a singleblock. Moreover, the boot described hereinafter is of the type in whichthe upper part of the vamp (or leg) is mounted on the upper so that itmay undergo slight articulated movement. This boot comprises the vamp l,sole 2 and leg or cuff or ankle section 3.

As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sole 2 does not consist, asis usual, of an approximately parallelopiped slab with parallel straightside edges, but instead consists of a longitudinal middle zone whichruns from the toe to the heel of the shoe, and is flanked by edge zonesconsisting of alternating solid and empty spaces. In the embodimentshown the solid spaces or projecting parts are formed at the toe 4, heel5 and an intermediate zone 6. Between the zones 4 and 6, and 6 and 5,recesses, 7 and 8 respectively are formed in the sole (on both sides)which considerably lighten the weight of the shoe and in addition allowthe material used during moulding to be considerably reduced. For thesame reason a series of lightening recesses, 9, l0 and 11, respectively,are formed in the laterally projecting zones 4, 6 and 5.

It should be noted that the particular construction and arrangement ofthe hollow zones, between the solid zones, while considerably reducingas stated both the weight of the boot and the amount resin necessary forits manufacture in no way lessens the rigidity characteristics of thesole which are required in boots of this type.

In order to further'increase said rigidity, the solid longitudinalmiddle zone of the sole may be traversed over its entire length by alongitudinal strengthening element, for example a metal element (plate,tube).

In order to lighten as far as possible the structure of the sole (which,as stated, has been made up to the present time as a heavy block) insidethe heel 5 and to the sides of the solid continuous zone of the solethere are two symmetrical slot-type apertures 13, the upper openings ofwhich are then covered either by an inserted sole or by the sock whichis generally inserted into the vamp.

Again the sole 2 is constructed so that it comprises at its toe achamfer 14 in the forward direction, in order to facilitate walking bythe user of the boot.

The detachable leg piece or ankle section 3 will now be described. Thisis of the type articulatedly coupled to the vamp l, but contrary to mostof the sbi boots used up to the present time for providing thisarticulation, instead of using pairs of hinges on opposing sides of theshoe for the coupling between the ankle section and vamp, it uses anarticulated joint only at the rear of the boots i.e. at the rear zone ofthe vamp and at the back portion of the ankle section which faces theheel and the Achilles tendon leg part of the user. Thus the leg piece iscompletely free over its entire perimeter, and is only restrained in theproximity of the heel. In this manner the discomfort and disadvantageswhich are characteristic of boots with legs with side coupling areavoided, because the uncomfortable swelling towards the outside of theboot, and the presence of hard surfaces inside the boot precisely atthose projecting parts of the foot which because of this are exposed toabrasion or injury, are eliminated.

The type of pin coupling proposed for linking the leg to the vamp alsogives the considerable advantage of allowing one leg to be replaced byanother with extreme ease and rapidity, as required by the user. Infact, leg pieces are employed which are inclined to a greater or lesserextent, or are more or less high at their rear, according to the type ofuse for which the ski boot is intended. Thus for example for sportingactivities the leg piece must be provided at its rear with an upperappendix or tongue which supports the calf, whereas for normal skiingactivities this appendix gives rise to annoyance and discomfort. Fromthe aforegoing, the advantage of being able to apply leg pieces ofdifferent construction to the same vamp, in turn, so that the user doesnot need a number of pairs of boots of different configuration, isevident.

The boot according to the invention is provided at its rear with aprojecting pin, the head of which is of elongated horizontal form. Thepin with its elongated head 15 may consist of an element fixed on to thevamp 1 or may be formed during moulding of the vamp as a single piecewith it, in plastics material. The leg piece 3 is provided at its lowerrear end with an elongated aperture or slot 16 of such a size as toenable the head 15 to pass through it, but which extends normally in avertical direction i.e. transverse to the longitudinal extension of theelongated head 15. Consequently, taking into account the relativerigidity of the leg 3, it may be deformed, when the shoe is open, to theextent necessary to enable it to be rotated through 90, so that the head15 may be disengaged from the aperture 16 and the leg 3 separated fromthe vamp 1. This enables the leg to be replaced by a different one,repeating the operation in the opposite direction. When assembled, theleg is firmly fixed on the vamp 1, while being able to make limitedoscillations in a forward direction because of the structural formationsallowing limited play between the pin 15 and slot 16.

In practice the materials used and dimensions may be varied according torequirements.

I claim:

1. A ski boot including a vamp having a rear zone, a sole of plasticsintegral with the vamp, a detachable ankle section having a back portionadapted to face the heel and Achilles tendon leg part of the user andconnection means for connecting said ankle section to said vamp, whereinaccording to the improvement said connection means are entirely arrangedin the rear zone of the vamp and the back portion of the ankle sectionand comprise a pin coupling having structural'formations allowing playtherebetween in the direction of the boot height.

2. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein said pin coupling comprisesa pin rigid with and projecting outwardly from said rear zone of thevamp, said pin having a shaft and an elongated head, and means in saidback portion of the ankle section defining an elongated slot, saidelongated slot extending in a direction normally transverse to thelongitudinal extension of said elongated head, said elongated slotallowing slidable movement of said pin shaft when inserted therein andallowing insertion therein of said elongated pin head when thelongitudinal extension of said slot and said pin head are arrangedparallel to each other.

1. A ski boot including a vamp having a rear zone, a sole of plasticsintegral with the vamp, a detachable ankle section having a back portionadapted to face the heel and Achilles'' tendon leg part of the user andconnection means for connecting said ankle section to said vamp, whereinaccording to the improvement said connection means are entirely arrangedin the rear zone of the vamp and the back portion of the ankle sectionand comprise a pin coupling having structural formations allowing playtherebetween in the direction of the boot height.
 2. A ski bootaccording to claim 1, wherein said pin coupling comprises a pin rigidwith and projecting outwardly from said rear zone of the vamp, said pinhaving a shaft and an elongated head, and means in said back portion ofthe ankle section defining an elongated slot, said elongated slotextending in a direction normally transverse to the longitudinalextension of said elongated head, said elongated slot allowing slidablemovement of said pin shaft when inserted therein and allowing insertiontherein of said elongated pin head when the longitudinal extension ofsaid slot and said pin head are arranged parallel to each other.